Resilient wheel-hub.



.J. W. BREADY. RESI-LIENT WHEEL HUB, APPLICATION FILED APR so, 1913 Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

' F113 El WITNESSES: a 6? @Mw.

nnsrrirnnr 2 0' all, whom it may concern Be it lmown that LJosnrr-r W. Earner, a citizen or the United States-of America, residing zit-Springfield, in the county olf Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have 1nvented a new and useful Resilient "Wheel- Hub, of which the following is a'specification. 4

hiv invention relates to improvements 111 wheels for automobiles and similar vehicles, and more especially to the hubs of such wheels, and said invention consists of a con tral slotted disk adapted to he mounted on an axle and QIOVldQCl with rocking arms, and a floating annulus mounted on such disk and arms, such annulus having attached thereto or connected therewith the inner ends of the spokes of the wheel, together with such other parts and members as may he needed. to complete the hub, all as hereinafter set forth.

The main object of my invention is to pro vide a yielding whe l hub, which iscomparatively simple in construction, and. is capable .of absorbing shocks to the extent of enabling the machine to ride easily and without jarringand unpleasant motion, even in the absence of the pneumatic tire. When this hub is used, the pneumatic tire may be dispensed with altogether, as just intimated, or such tire maybe provided for the wheel of which said hub forms a part, and when so provided lasts longer than. would be the case if the hub oi the wheel were unyielding. The pres ence of this hub also reduces the engine and transmission strains of the machine to the minimum.

A further object such a hub for emergencies, such as the breaking of any of the springs or other hub elements, so that the floating annulus can without difficulty be locked securely to the dish, thus converting the hub into a practically solid and unyielding structure, which is an important and valuable feature of my in ention. v

All of the springs are arranged in the same plane in the hub, wherefore ungainly lines and undue bulk are avoided, and true mechanical principles are adhered to. The hub members are attachable and detachable at will, consequently repairs can be easily and quickly made.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following uescription.

Specification of Letters izatcnt.

I application filed april 3D, 1913.

is to make provision in I mounted ti A. .CEL

preferred. form of embodiment of the inyention, whereby l attain the objects and secure the advantages of the same, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and l will proceed to describethe invention with reference to said drawings, although it is to he understood that the form, construction, arrangement, etc, of the parts in various aspects are not material and may be modified Without departure from the spirit of the invention.

in the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, oi hub which embodies the invention as aforesaid; Fig. 2, a cross-section through said hub, taken on lines 2+2, looking in the direction of theassociated arrow, in Fig. l, and :3, a detail in cross-section or: a portion or the nub center or SlOBLQd disk with the sleeve.

7 n Upon reference to the drawings, it will be seen that, in its general construction, the

hub comprises an axle sleeve 1 and a disk 3, six, more or less, oscillatory or rocking radial arms l spaced at equal distances from each other on bearing centers, a series of pistens or plungers 5, each pivotally attached at 6 to the outer end of one of said arms, a floating annulus or ring 7 of larger internal diameter than the peripheral diameter oi said disk, said ring having radial chambers 8 therein for said plungers and for a second set of plungers 9, the latter being arranged alternately with said. firshnientioned plungers, springs 10 in said chambers, between the outer ends of the plungers which operate therein and a series of screw-plugs ll, face plates 1Z12 having open centers lit-13 and being secured to opposite sides or said in one piece, or else are rigidly connected, as

by a spline 17, shown in Fig. 1, so that to all intents and purposes they are integral. The axle of the vehicle is received in the sleeve 1, and said sleeve with the other parts'ol the hub and wheel revolve on such.

axle in the ordinary and usual manner. Said sleeve projects both ways from the disk 3, these projecting parts have icon two flanges W ldpacer rings 19-19 are placed on the sleeve 1, on each side of the disk 3, ard the flanges 18 are held firmly against said rings and se curely on said sleeve by means of two nuts screwed onto the outer terminals of the sleeve against the outer ends of The front end of the sleeve 1 vided with a r movable cap 21 to cover the parts at this point for the purpose of excluding dust and dirt from the axial bearing and revoluble members.

The flanges 18 on the inside fit snugly against the uter faces of the face-plates 12, but are prevented from binding thereon by the rings 19. The face-plates 12, therefore, are permitted to move freely between the said flanges. is also proflanges l8, and there should be the same amount of clearance between the edges of the openings 13 therein and the peripheries of said rings, that there is between adjacent surfaces of the ring or annulus 7, that carries said face-plates, and the disk 3. Thus it is clear that the face-plates can not interfere with the action or movement of the floating ring.

The purpose of the face-plates 12 is to inclose the interior hub mechanism or yielding parts, and access to such parts from either side is had upon the removal of the nut 20 and flange 18 from the corresponding terminal of the sleeve 1, first taking off the cap 21, if access is to be had from the front side, and the removal of the face-plate from the same side. The bolts 14 pass through bothface-plates 12 and the ring 7, and it is necessary to take the nuts 15 off of said bolts and then. to take out the latter in order to release said face-plates or either of them.

The disk 8 has a series of radial slots 22 therein for the arms 4. Each arm 1- has a. bearing head 23 at its inner end, and the inner end of each slot 22 is shaped to form a bearing for such head, while such slot outside of the recess for the head hassides that diverge as they extend toward or approach the disk periphery, so as to enable said arm to rock, in the direction of rotation of the hub either way, to whatever extent may be necessary.

The springs 16 in each pair, are pocketed in the disk 3 in such positions that they extend out into one of the slots 22 near its outer' end and bear against opposite edges of the arm 4 in such slot. Thus the springs 16 normally center the arms 4 in their slots, assist in absorbing shock when the arms are rocked out of normal position in either direction, and thereafter return them to such position. The arms/l and their heads 23 are slipped into place in the slots 22 from either side, and the pivots 6, which connect the istons 5 with said arms are inserted, be ore both face-plates 12 are bolted to the ring 7.

Any suitable kind of a recess may be made in the disk 3 for the reception of each spring it. In the present case I slot the disk from side to side to produce a recess for I each spring 16, and center such spring by I I means of two blocks 24 placed in said recess, with said spring between, and practically l filling the spaces both sides of said spring between thelatterand the face-plates 12. This is an inexpensive expedient and practicable for the purpose.

The plungers 5 and 9 may be provided with piston-rings 25, or other form of packing, to prevent in great measure or entirely the escape of air from the chambers 8 around said plungers. Thus air cushions are provided in the chambers 8, which assist the springs 10 in said chambers in receiving the thrusts from the pistons 5 and 9. Said air cushions not only supplement the springs 10 in serving as yielding buffers, but relieve said springs from some of the load they otherwise would have to carry The plungers 9 have rounded inner ends to ride on the periphery of the disk 3 between the slots 22. These plungers are free in a certain sense, while in the same sense the plungers 5 are not, since they are connected with the arms 4 and serve therewith to connect the ring 7 with the disk 3 and limit the amount of independent circumferential movement that may occur between said ring and disk in either direction. The plugs 11 aretapped into the outer ends of the chambers 8, and upon their removal access is had to the springs lOland plungers 5 and 9. Thus a broken sprlng 10 can lery readily be replaced. So, too, can a broken spring 16 bereplaced, it only being necessary to remove'one of the face-plates l2 and one of the blocks 24 that assists in centering such spring.

In the event of any serious breakage of any part of this hub, I have provided (emer gency means whereby the face-plates 12 with all connected parts can be rigidlysecured to the disk' 3 in such a manner that no independent movement between parts is possible. To this end one or more holes 26 are made in each face-plate'12, and one or more holes 27 are made in the disk 3, each pair of adjacent plate holes and the adjacent disk hole being so located that they aline with one another when the parts aredisposed so that the arms 4 are in the centers of theslots 22; and a bolt 28 and a nut 29 (see Fig. 2) are pro vided for each set of three of said holes, that is, for each set of alining holes. In the event this emergency means is required, the hub or the axle upon which it is mounted is jacked up to allow the ring 'Zto be centered on the axis of the disk 3, the parts are manipulated if necessary to bring each set of holes 26 and 27 into alinement, and a bolt 28 is passed through such set of holes and secured ,with its nut 29. Now the hub is asse ses practically a solid and unyielding unit, and there is no further liability of breakage or of damage from the injury already sustained formation, and is secured to the ring 7 by means of bolts 32 and ni1ts38, the former passing through the sides of said rim and through said ring. In order to render the rim 3O attachable and detachableit may be divided transversely intosections The adaptability of this him or its parts for easy and quick assembling and disassembling is clearly apparent from What has hereinbet'ore been said upon this point, taken in connection with the drawings. This tea ture is especially important in the making of repairs and the replacing of Worn and broken parts. 1 In practice the springs 10 and l6 yield and expand the hub revolves under a load, and the arms a rock on their heads 23 in the. slots l as the plungers 5 move in and out of.

their chambers 8, except whenever an. arm

chances to lie-perpendicular and in the center of its slot, then, of course, the axis of the plunger attached to such arm coincides with or is a continuation of the longitudinal center of said arm. The plurigers 9 move in and out of their chambers 8, as the contacting parts of the disk periphery move toward and away from the inner: ends of said chambers. There is a limited amount of relative movement circumferentially between the disk 3 and the contacting parts of the plungers 9, such movement being incidental to the independent movement permitted to the arms at by the slot-ted parts of said disk, and by said arms to the ring '5.

The hub is Well balanced in its yielding parts, so that there is the requisite degree of moderation of movement, both from equilibrium and to recovery, it is stable, strong and durable, and Well calculated to Withstand lateral strain. W hen the hub is part of a rear or d rect-driven Wheel, the fiexibile ity afforded by the floating annulus lessens the strain on the en ine and transmission as will be readily un erstood.

What I claim as m ihvention, and desire to secure by Dette rs atent, is v 1-. The combination, in a resilient Wheelhub, with: a disk adapted to be mounted on an axle and having radial slots therein, of

rocking; arms mounted in the slotted parts of saiddisk, springs carried by said disk and and bearing against opposite sides oi projecting from opposite sides l arms to center the latter normally ii slots, plungers plvotally connects arms, a floating ring around ear having chambers therein for r and removable plugs in the outer said chambers.

55. The combination, in a resilient Wheeb hub, with a dial: adapted to be mounted on an axle and having radial. slots therein, oi rocking arms mounted in ed parts of said disk, springs carried by said disk and projecting from opposite sides its slots es or and bearing opposite sic arms to center the latter normall in said slots, plunger-s plvotally conne A 1th said.

arms, a fioatin ring around said oisk and having chambers therein for said plan the outer-ends cl said chambers being closed, and springs in said chambers etween their closed ends and said plungers.

3. The combination, in resilient Wheelhub, with a disk adapted to be i ounted on an axle and having radial slo therein, of rocking arms provided with mount l in the slotted parts of said disk, springs carr'ied by said disk to center normally said arms in said slots, plungers pivotally con nected withsaid arms, and floating ring around said disk and chambers therein for said :rlungers, chambers eing closed atthe1r outer ends.

l. The combination, in a Wheelhub, with a disk adapted to be mounted on an axle and having radial slots therein, roclring'arms provided with beads mounted in the slotted parts of said disk, springs ried byeaid dish centeruiorinally said arms in said slots, plungcrs pivot-ally connected "with said arms, a floating ring around-said disk and having chambers therein for said plungers, SR1 outer ends of said chambers'being closed, 3 said chambers between the closed the same and said plunge fem.

The combination, hub, with. a disk adapted be outer ends, said plungcrs operating in certain of said chambers, and other plnugers operating'in certain others said chambers, n the lch are said last-mentioned plungers oeari peripheral portions of said their between. said slots.

6. The combination, in rt nt wheehub, with a disk adapted to be mounted on an axle and having radial slots therein, of rocking arms provided with heads mounted 3 ends ill) ail

in the slotted parts of said disk, springs carried by said arms in said slots, plungers pivota ly connecte with said arms, a floating ring around said disk and having thereinfchanr hers with closed outer ends, said pl'nn'gers operating in-t-ertain of said chambers, other plunger-s oper ating in certain others of said chambers and bearing on the disk periphery, and springs invsaid chambers between the closed ends thereof and said plungers.

7. The combination, in a resilient wheel hub, with a disk provided with an axle sleeve, said disk having radial slots therein, and flanges mounted on said sleeve on both sides of said disk, of rocking arms mounted in the slotted parts of said disk, springs carried by said disk and projectingfromopposite sides of its slots and bearing against opposite sides of said arms to center the latter normally in said slots, a floating ring around said disk, said ring having chambers therein, spring-pressed plungers in said chambers, said plungers being pivotally connected with said arms, and face-plates attached to said ring, but removable there from, and extending disk and said flanges, movable therebetween.

8. The combination, in a resilient wheelhub, with a disk provided with an axle sleeve, said disk having radial slots therein, and removable flanges mounted on said slecve both sides of said disk, of rocking arms mbunted in. the slotted parts of said inwardly between said sald tace-plates being disk to center normally said disk, a floating ring around said disk, said ring having chambers therein, springpressed plnngers in certain of said chambers, said. plungers being pivotally connected with said arms, other spring-pressed plungers in certain others of said chambers, said lastmentioned plungers bearing on the disk periphery, spacerrings on said sleeve between said disks andsaid flanges and face-plates attached to said floating ring and extending inwardly between said disk and said flanges, said face-plates having a certain amount of movement therebetween without contact with said spacer rings.

9; The combination, in a resilient wheelhub, with a disk provided with an axle sleeve, said disk having radial slots therein, and flanges mounted on said sleeve both sides of said disk, of spring-centered rocking arms mounted in the slotted parts of said disk, a floatin said ring having 0 ambers therein, springpressed plungers in certain of said chambers, said plungers being pivotally connected with said arms, other spring-pressed plungers in certain others of said chambers, said last-mentioned plungers bearing on the disk periphery, and face-plates attached to said ringand extending inwardly between said' disk and said flanges, said face-plates being movable therebetween.

JOSEPH W. BREADY.. Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, C. P. KENNEY.

ring around said disk, 

